Idiot Scratch.

[DaveN]

As some might know I have but do not own a 1943 Rem Rand /Colt mix master. It I've been told isn't worth anything as a collector. So how would I repair the idiot scratch not that I need to but can it be done without refinishing the whole lower. I've repaired some bluing on a shooter lugar with some success ( not perfect but better). Any advice welcome as always.

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[Johnny Peppers]

The scratch is just part of reassembling the pistol, and the GI was not taught to be very careful not to scratch it for future collectors. If done by a GI it is certainly not an "idiot scratch".

To answer your question, you can color it with cold blue if it unacceptable.

[DaveN]

JP, what your saying is I can use a cold blue and it will match this finish? And I was only going on what I had heard it called and in would never call some of the bravest men and women that. With all humility thank you for correcting me. dave

[Johnny Peppers]

The cold blue will be more of a brown color, but will not exactly match the color of the phosphate, but it will come closer to matching than anything else you can do short of refinishing the receiver.

[Duane Hansen]

If I were you and after seeing the pictures of your RR pistol, I would leave the pistol alone and leave it just the way it is. Anything you do at this point will only detract from it and actually make the piece worth less instead of more in the future. When you initially spoke of the scratch, I thought you were speaking of something that was totally hideous and therefore flat out unacceptable. The scratch is not that bad and is part of the pistols history and I think that it should be left as is. Just my opinion.

[mike radford]

If I were you and after seeing the pictures of your RR pistol, I would leave the pistol alone and leave it just the way it is. Anything you do at this point will only detract from it and actually make the piece worth less instead of more in the future. When you initially spoke of the scratch, I thought you were speaking of something that was totally hideous and therefore flat out unacceptable. The scratch is not that bad and is part of the pistols history and I think that it should be left as is. Just my opinion.

I agree. Leave it be.

[DaveN]

I will leave it and thanks for your input it's much valued.

[dsk]

The so-called "idiot scratch" on a USGI pistol is like holster wear in the usual spots on the slide and frame. It is rare to see a pistol that's been used that doesn't have it, which means it's perfectly normal. As a matter of fact I've been told that GI's were often instructed to push the slide stop against the frame first, then slide it up and into the takedown notch as a means of getting the pistol reassembled more easily.

Now a commercial pistol, that's a different matter. The condition of the finish is paramount and any scratch is a bad thing regarding value.

[jmoore]

If the scratch is on the slide or forward of the trigger then you might call it an "idiot scratch". If it looks like a Japanese Type 14 pistol's safety scratch (i.e. almost all the way around) then someone was bored...!

[Johnny Peppers]

The real "idiot scratch" is where someone tries to pry out the slide stop with a screwdriver. When that doesn't work, he then tries to beat it out from the other side. The receiver being softer than the slide stop gets all the damage. No GI did that.